Stage Overview:

NEW SEEKERS & DISCOVERY GROUPS

As we begin to encounter the first seekers or people of peace, we must of course be intentional about praying strategically for them and ourselves, but we must also consider how we are modeling prayer from our earliest interactions with seekers, in the early stages of discovery groups, and when coaching emerging leaders. In the early stages, this may mean simply being known as people of prayer, in discovery groups it may mean simply directing seekers curious about prayer to Scripture, where they can learn more and develop shapes for prayer that fit their cultural context.

It's important to realize that the patterns we set (consciously or unconsciously) early on will have significant impact later on - potentially shaping subsequent groups, generations, and movements. Of course if we have come to this point in a movement work with a mindset centered on listening prayer and discernment, it is likely that continuing in that vein will flow naturally; but we should pause to consider what manner of prayer culture we want to model for seekers, what God-centered prayer might look like in their context, and what kind of prayer culture the Lord would desire in future stages of an emerging movement work. In all of this, we must be intentional about trusting the work of the Holy Spirit to guide seekers and new believers, and we might also do well to prayerfully consider what shapes prayer may take in an emerging movement from the early stages, especially as seekers and new believers begin to discover prayer in Scripture and ask questions. How can we begin from the earliest stages with some shape or intimation of the eventual prayer culture that should be part of every healthy movement, including listening prayer, prayers of blessing, intercession, and more?

Aside from the culture of prayer that we seek to model in our encounters with seekers, to what degree are we asking the Lord to guide our prayers for these seekers? How can we actually build deeper trust and connection with these seekers by asking about and praying for their needs, and by teaching them to ask God for things as well?

Prayer Priorities for this Stage:

* Pray that God will lead us to true persons of peace

* Pray that these people will open up their relationships to the gospel

* Pray that these people will become "fourth soil" people

* Keep praying for other laborers to join us

* Pray for perseverance in prayer and sharing

* Intercede for seekers and discovery groups, especially for soft and open hearts